Well, this year started off with a bang, but a couple of minor setbacks have me running behind on getting my first load fired and ready to sell. First, I had the flu. That put me down for two full weeks and three weekends in January. Next, is the weather. It has been snowing like MAD. We’ve been getting about one storm per week for several weeks now. I had to dig out around the kiln house so we could get the propane bottle refilled. That is finally done, and the kiln is accessible. I am working on putting color onto the last of the mugs. I plan to load the kiln tomorrow, candle overnight, and fire it on Sunday. This will be a bisque firing; next will be to do the glaze firing two weekends from now.

I have been doing a lot of color on striped mugs and espresso cups, and water design “eddy line” plates. I did some plates with Duncan underglazes, and others with stained slips. I’m excited to see which technique comes out best.

Here’s a picture of the kiln house and the path I shoveled. Hard to tell from the picture, but the snow is about two feet deep: